On 3/13/2019 at approximately 1915 hours, Chippewa County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to an address on North Whitefish Point Road in Whitefish Township, for a report of a domestic dispute involving a stabbing.
Upon arrival, Deputies learned that two male subjects kidnapped, with the use of weapons, a 5-year old boy from the home and fled the scene Northbound towards Whitefish Point Lighthouse. Prior to taking the child, the male subjects had located an adult female outside of the residence. Suspects then gained entry to the residence where a male adult and 4 children were encountered.
The two male suspects were armed with knives, a chemical spray and blunt objects. Next, victims were sprayed with the chemical spray and zip tied while having their mouths duct taped shut. The two male suspects then began to look for a 5-year old boy located in the house. While they searched, one of the family members was able to cut themselves loose from the zip ties and stabbed at least one of the subjects.
Having located the 5-year old, the two male suspects, one of which is the biological father, fled outside, and left the scene in a camouflage pick-up.
Law Enforcement Officers responding to the scene began to look for the suspect vehicle, eventually finding it on BlueBerry Lane approximately 5 miles north of the original venue, parked in a driveway.
While running surveillance on the house and making contact with occupants, Officers learned that the two suspects and the child had left the truck and were now on foot heading east across Lake Superior towards Canada.
Michigan DNR units and Deputies did utilize snowmobiles immediately to begin tracking the suspects as they fled on foot through the snow and slush. Approximately 2 miles east of the Lake Superior Shore line, Officers encountered both suspects and the kidnapped child.
The suspects were taken into custody without incident and the child was safely secured. All parties involved were checked for exposure when they arrived back to main land.
The 1st suspect was identified as George Stephen Cunningham, 53 years of age. He is also identified as a registered Sex Offender and was currently on tether. In an attempt to hide or escape detections, he did cut his tether shortly after the incident.
The second suspect was identified as Jon Scott Stygler, 68 years old.
Both subjects were lodged at the Chippewa County Sheriff Office on a host of charges including but not limited to, kidnapping, assault, home invasion and child endangerment. This investigation continues and additional charges may be added.
Assisting the Chippewa County Sheriff with the arrest of the subjects and recovery of the kidnapped child was the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan State Police, Border Patrol, ICE Agents, FBI, and the Whitefish Township EMS team and Chippewa County Central Dispatch.
